Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-09-08
Emancipation as a War Measure.

Emancipation as War Measure.
The Toledo Bee asks "if the colored
people generally have not occasion to be
disgusted with the way the Republican
party was prepared to treat them up to
the moment when the emancipation pro-
clamation was signed" If 1t is true
that colored people had any occasion to
be disgusted with the Republican party
up to this period we are not aware of
it. The Free Soil party was organized
to prevent the extension of slavery into
the Territories, and after heroic bat>
tie, costing the lives of hundreds of free
men, succeeded in accomplishing its
mission. Had the party done no other
act than this it would forever be enti-
tied to the gratitude of the colored race
When Democratic Supreme Court of
the United States decided that slaves
were chattels. like cattle, aud could be
bought and sold as such, and be carried
as property to any territory of the Uni
ted States by their masters. the Republi-
can party denounced the decision as in+
famous, illegal. and inh uman. and called
upon all honest citizens to rally for the
overthrow of such vile, detestable doc+
trine. When the war was at its height,
the Republican administration ordered
that all male slaves fleeing from their
masters should be treated with kindness,
organized into regiments. be given their
freedom, accepted as soldiers of the Re-
public, and allowed all the rights, priyi-
leges, and honors of manhood. When
the Confederate Government refused to
exchange their black prisoners for white
men captured by our forces, Mr.. Linz
coin refused to allow any exchanges IN
til the Confederate authorities waived
all questions in regard to the color of
the captives. The Repblican party
made slaves freemen. and from chattels
made them honored and trusted sol.
diers and officers of the Union. Up to
this period there was roum nor graft
tude in the hearts of colored men for the
Republican party.
Everybody knows that the Emancipa-
tion proclamation was issued of legal
necessity, as war measure. Unless the
slaves could be freed on constitutional
grounds they could not be freed at all.
Hence the proclamation, while justify
ing itself "as war measure warranted
by the Constitution upon military ne
cessity," was as a matter of fact made
by Mr.. Lincoln because he regarded 1t as
an act of justice and humanity to the
colored people as means of concluding
the war. Mr.. Lincoln himself has
left on record for all time one Of the
reasons that induced him to issue the
proclamation. He said: 81 promised the
Lord if we succeeded in whipping the
enemy in that battle, l would issue the
proclamation He spoke with great
solemnity, and all who heard him knew
he had fulfilled his vow from what he
regarded as religious duty. The rea
son why West Virginia and other parts
of the South we're at first exempted from
the provisions of the proclamation was
simply because in these sections there
was no rebellion against the authority
of the United States. and the legal
grounds for emancipation did not then
exist.
But the mere freeing of the slaves
was only the beginning of the noble
work of the Republican party for the
benefit of the race. When peace came
that party protected the blacks from the
atrocities and violence OF their. former
owners. 1t made the entire race citi
Zens of the United States. 1t gave them
the ballot, the means of education made
them jurors, legislators, members of
Congress, and high officers of the States
aud government. 1t bedged them about
with constitutional enactments that for
ever secure their rights and liberties,all
against the united persistent opposition
of the Democratic party.
The whole history of the Abolition
party, the Free Soil party, and the Re-
publican party, all uniting at last in one
for the liberty and advancement of the
colored race, is one of the noblest,grand-
est, and most successful in the record of
the worlds advancement. If the color
ed men did not recognize and remember
these achievements in behalf Of their
race it would justify the conclusion that |
slavery was their normal condition. and |
freedom and manhood unsuited to their |
comprehension. But they do remember |
1t, and are grateful.-Cleveland Leader. |
The eutire control f'the liquor traffic |
at the Shenandoah county. Va- Agri